1.   A new constitution was adopted transforming a loose federation of affiliated organisations into a centralised national political party.

2.   They were something else, a loose federation of animals and plants united into an emergent superorganism exhibiting distinctive behavior.

3.   This was a proposal for a loose federation of locally based groups.

4.   Often a local authority is a loose federation of states rather than one strongly unified body.

5.   The Labour Party was ceasing to be a loose federation of political and industrial groups.

6.   And, while Arthur Andersen operates as a global partnership, KPMG International is a loose federation of smaller partnerships in each country.

7.   A loose federation of Iranian civilian and military organizations is helping Tehran conduct bomb research and hunt for the same weapons-grade materials.

8.   Nevertheless, Sri Lanka cannot save itself from perpetual civil war unless the government grants the Tamils true autonomy in a loose federation or confederation.

9.   Such frustration is washing through the upper ranks of the Northern Alliance, the loose federation of military commanders holding out against the Taliban.